Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book Synopsis The Sunday Business Post Fiction Book of the Year | Shortlisted for Popular Fiction Book of the Year – An Post Irish Book Awards A heart-warming and hilarious novel about life, love, and the weight of all we leave unsaid, Duffy & Son is a quietly moving masterpiece from one of Ireland’s most gifted comic writers.Trade Review‘Funny, sweet, charming and just a little bit heart-breaking’ – Dara O’Briain “Enormously entertaining … a universal story told in a uniquely Irish way” ’ – Liz Nugent

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestselling novelist Rosie Goodwin writes a spell-binding saga of bitter loss, lost love and long buried secrets. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Kitty Neale.With the promise of a new start, will she find the happiness she longs for?Kate Cleary feels no sorrow when her brutal father dies. At last she will be free from him, even though she and Nuala, the sister who depends on her for everything, must now leave his miners cottage. Then Kate discovers they have an aunt in the Midlands whom their father had kept secret, and who now offers them a home. Despite leaving her heart in Durham with Matthew, a young artist, Kate feels loved and safe with Aunt Beth. But her peace is shattered by an astonishing revelation from Nuala, and a series of brutal attacks on the women of Nuneaton. Kate turns to a handsome widower, Martin Denby, but is his kindness too good to be true?Trade ReviewAn absorbing story in the grand tradition of the best saga authors -- Margaret DickinsonA wonderful heroine, plucky, determined and warm-hearted. A believable and compelling read -- Jennie FeltonRosie writes such heart-warming sagas -- Lyn AndrewsA heart-throbber of a story that puts so many other so-called emotional blockbusters in the shade * Northern Echo *Not only is Goodwin's characterisation and dialogue compelling, her descriptive writing is a joy * Nottingham Evening Post *The new Catherine Cookson * Coventry Evening Telegraph *A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer * Bookseller *Goodwin has the enviable knack of putting the past into focus with wonderfully warm and credible characters, lively dialogue and fascinating period detail of everyday life. A Rose Among Thorns is another moving and inspirational story from a writer who knows how to tug at the heart strings * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book Synopsis* OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD * * THE NO.1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * * THE RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK * * THE REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK * _______________________________________ * NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES ON APPLE TV+ STARRING JENNIFER GARNER * 'The ultimate page turner' - REESE WITHERSPOON 'Powerful, intense and beautifully observed' - T.M. LOGAN 'A brilliant thriller' - JANE CASEY IT WAS THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME: PROTECT HER Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his new wife, Hannah: protect her. Hannah knows exactly who Owen needs her to protect - his teenage daughter, Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. And who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As her desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, his boss is arrested for fraud and the police start questioning her, Hannah realises that her husband isn't who he said he was. And that Bailey might hold the key to discovering Owen's true identity, and why he disappeared. Together they set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen's past, they soon realise that their lives will never be the same again... Now a major Apple TV+ series starring Jennifer Garner and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, discover the book that everyone is talking about...Trade ReviewLaura Dave is a master storyteller. Gripping, big-hearted and twisty, The Last Thing He Told Me grabs readers from the very first page and never lets go -- Greer Hendricks, bestselling co-author of THE WIFE BETWEEN USA massive page-turner, really gripping. I raced through it -- Laura Marshall, bestselling author of THREE LITTLE LIESThe ultimate page turner. There's so much to love about this roller coaster of a novel -- Reese WitherspoonPowerful, intense and beautifully observed. A thriller with real heart -- T.M. Logan, bestselling author of THE HOLIDAYA brilliant thriller. Totally compelling, superbly crafted and unpredictable in the best way -- Jane Casey, author of THE CUTTING PLACEA must-read for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Big Little Lies * You Magazine *Just the sort of gripping read you need for summer evenings * Belfast Telegraph *This gripping thriller is perfect TV-drama fodder and Reese Witherspoon's production company is making the miniseries. When Hannah's husband vanishes, leaving behind a note and bag of cash, she sets about unravelling the mystery, helped by her stepdaughter Bailey, who is equally as in the dark. Or is she? I steamed through it in one read * Stella *Clever, compulsive and twisty as hell. Cancel all your plans before you start this one, I had to remind myself to breathe during the final, devastating pages -- Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDI loved The Last Thing He Told Me - a gripping, twisty read which examines loyalty, motherhood and betrayal -- Sarah J. Harris, bestselling author of THE COLOUR OF BEE LARKHAM'S MURDER

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Book Synopsis''A beautiful, moving and thought provoking story, The Figurine is a stunning read . . . her love and passion for Greece comes through loud and clear with every word she writes'' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''Her love for Greece shines through and transports readers to a brilliantly drawn world'' Independent''Family turmoil, unanswered questions, romance and betrayal, all served up against the backdrop of Greece and its enchanting history'' Daily ExpressFeel the sun on your face and the sand of the Aegean islands beneath your feet as you uncover the fate of the Bronze Age figurines in the heart-pounding new novel from the No 1 bestselling author.*When Helena inherits her grandparents'' apartment in Athens, she is overwhelmed with memories of the summers she spent there as a child in the 1960s. Her remote, cruel grandfather was a general in the brutal militaryTrade ReviewA tightly wrought excavation of family history * The Mail on Sunday *Hislop's love for Greece shines and transports readers through space and time to a brilliantly drawn world * The Independent *Family turmoil, unanswered questions, romance and betrayal, all served up against the backdrop of Greece and its enchanting history * The Express *A gripping storyline that leaves no stone unturned * The Mirror *Fans of Victoria Hislop's novels will love this thought-provoking novel set in her beloved Greece * Red *

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Book Synopsis‘A gorgeous story full of emotion and a very special library.’ – Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop Some stories stay with us forever…Trade Review'A lovely story that celebrates books, family and kindness. Touching and beautiful.' – Hazel Prior, bestselling author of Away with the Penguins 'The Memory Library is so joyful. Kate Storey writes from the heart and the gut about mistakes and how we can learn from them. Great characters and a truly heartwarming story – I loved it!' – Laura Pearson, author of #1 Kindle bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont ‘A gorgeous novel that pairs my (and many people’s) perennial love for books about books with themes of family – and just how complex they can be.' – Platinum 'An utterly gorgeous page turner about the power of books, family and forgiveness.' – Phaedra Patrick, The Library of Lost and Found ‘The Memory Library is a magical story…It’s a magnificent celebration of the wonderful world of books and libraries – one to treasure and re-read over and over again!’ – Celia Anderson, author of USA Today bestseller 59 Memory Lane ‘A beautiful, poignant tale of family, friendship and the power of books. I was completely swept away.’ – Kindle bestseller Annie Lyons

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Book SynopsisCan she help the village survive the war?April 1941. When Bobby Bancroft arrived in Silverdale to take a job as a reporter on The Tyke magazine, the sleepy Yorkshire Dales village felt like a little pocket of a past long gone.While much of the country was suffering nightly bombing raids as the Blitz raged, life in isolated Silverdale carried on just as it had for a hundred years or more. But as the summer of 1941 approaches, war finally seems to have come to Silverdale. The villagers face new hardships when shortages and rationing begin to bite, young men become scarce as more and more are called up, and Bobby finds herself juggling her job on the magazine with a new role as an ARP warden. Even her surly editor Reg and his wife are doing their bit, taking two young evacuees from London into their home.Meanwhile, Bobby has been growing closer to village vet Charlie, who is preparing to leave Silverdale to begin training with the RAF. The villagers are whispering that wedding bells will soon be chiming, but then Bobby is confronted with an impossible choice. Can she bring herself to give up the job she adores to be with the man she loves?Don't miss this heart-warming, captivating WWII saga series set in the Yorkshire Dales. If you like James Herriot, Gervase Phinn, Pam Howes or Maggie Mason, you'll love this.Praise for Betty Firth's Made in Yorkshire saga series:‘One of the best books I have read in a very, very long time.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘A gorgeous setting, appealing characters and brimming with warmth and humour. It’s a long time since a book has so thoroughly captured my heart. Don’t miss it!’ Kate Field‘This was such a good story from start to the end… Thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the village characters were so true to life.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader ReviewWhat a brilliant book…Family saga at its best.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘LOVED IT!!!...My heart ached when reading this… A lovely story, full of heart and home. I didn't want it to end…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Read in 24 hours! Exceptional!...The storyline was strong and the characters were all likeable and relatable... There were lots of twists and turns that kept me wanting to read more.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘**I absolutely loved this book! **The life and times of a wartime Yorkshire village and its people shine through, authentic, realistic and charming, and Bobby is a highly likeable heroine with ambition and heart.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review'I am beyond impressed with this book. I hope this truly is the start of a long series’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisThrilling and absorbing, Cometh the Hour is the sixth novel in international bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s the Clifton Chronicles and sees the Clifton and Barrington families navigate the 1970s in an epic tale of tragedy and hope.There are devastating consequences for Harry and Emma Clifton, her brother Giles Barrington and their arch enemy Lady Virginia when a suicide note is read out in court.Having fallen in love, Giles must decide if he should withdraw from politics to try and rescue the woman he loves from behind the Iron Curtain.Lady Virginia faces bankruptcy, and can see no way out of her financial problems, until she is introduced to a rich, hapless American. Harry and Emma’s son, Sebastian Clifton, now the Chief Executive of Farthings Bank, falls in love with the wrong girl even as his rivals plot to overthrow him. Meanwhile, his father remains determined to free a fellow author from a gulag in Siberia, following the internatiTrade ReviewArcher continues his storytelling magic to create characters of spellbinding substance, and readers can count on his surprising twists and shocking conclusion. Here, just when the end seems too tidy, Archer provides a killer cliffhanger * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant, original read' – Daily Mail'Totally absorbing, this is a story that will keep you gripped' – Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet SisterThe case is unexceptional, that is what I know. A house full of stuff left behind by a dead woman, abandoned at the last . . .When trauma cleaner Essie Pound makes a gruesome discovery in the derelict Edinburgh boarding house she is sent to clean, it brings her into contact with a young policewoman, Emily Noble, who has her own reasons to solve the case.As the two women embark on a journey into the heart of a forgotten family, the investigation prompts fragmented memories of their own traumatic histories – something Emily has spent a lifetime attempting to bury, and Essie a lifetime trying to lay bare.Emily Noble’s Disgrace is the third novel from Mary Paulson-Ellis, the bestselling author of The Other Mrs Walker, a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year.Trade ReviewPaulson-Elis writes with poetry and compassion about the forgotten and overlooked . . . A brilliant, original read * Daily Mail *Totally absorbing, this is a story that will keep you gripped through all its unexpected twists and turns -- Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet SisterThis book is a swoon and slither of silk with the grit of salt underneath. Mary Paulson-Ellis is a genius at peeling away the layers and slowly, skilfully putting flesh on the bones of an extraordinary, sinuous story -- Sarah Hilary, author of FragileSuperb -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *The territory of the dead — and the objects they leave behind — is the subject of this beautifully written, compelling contemporary gothic novel. Mary Paulson-Ellis strips back the secrets and lies hiding within one house with a deft touch -- Andrew Wilson, author of I Saw Him DieThe author writes with such compassion about people and there is poetry in her prose * Prima *A richly rewarding, gripping page-turner -- Val McDermid on The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing

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Book SynopsisRichard Russo's slyly funny and moving novel follows the unexpected workings of grace in a deadbeat town in upstate New York - and in the life of one of its unluckiest citizens, Sully, who has been doing the wrong thing triumphantly for fifty years.Divorced from his own wife and carrying on halfheartedly with another man's, saddled with a bum knee and friends who make enemies redundant, Sully now has one new problem to cope with: a long-estranged son who is in imminent danger of following in his father's footsteps. With its sly and uproarious humour and a heart that embraces humanity's follies as well as its triumphs, Nobody's Fool is storytelling at its most generous.Trade ReviewNobody's Fool is big, funny and richly human, a garrulous book that buttonholes you in the first few pages and does not let you go... In Sully, Russo has created a character you cannot resist. * Financial Times *Like Anne Tyler, Russo is interested in how people rub along; in kindness and responsibility; in cutting slack without being asked...Russo makes an enormous job of story-telling look effortless. He is, in all the best senses of the word, a natural. * Sunday Times *A rude, comic, harsh, galloping story of four generations of small-town losers, the best literary portrait of the backwater burg since Main Street. -- Annie ProulxRusso lifts a generous slice of middle America in all its flavours... Nobody's Fool is a great-hearted, unforgettable comedy in the best tradition of John Irving and Anne Tyler. * Vogue *This is a novel of charm and wit, akin to the works of Alice Hoffman, Anne Tyler and Garrison Keillor. * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisAs the Korean independence movement gathers pace, two children meet on the streets of Seoul. Fate will bind them through decades of love and war. They just don’t know it yet.Trade Review'Beasts of a Little Land is a stunning achievement. Juhea Kim wrestles with the chaos of a half-century of love, idealism, war and violence, and does so with courage and wisdom.' TLS'Full of Korean myth and historical detail, it’s an immersive read for a long weekend.' Stylist'This is historical fiction at its very best! I am astonished by Juhea's talent.' Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, internationally bestselling author of The Mountains Sing'Stunning... Profound... This novel will devastate you and then still you with its wise meditations on love and loss. I couldn’t put it down.' Alexis Schaitkin, author of Saint X'Beasts of a Little Land is a heartbreaking story rendered mythic by Kim’s gorgeous prose.' Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared'A magnificent, mesmerizing story of love and war… Cinematic in its scope, this is the type of novel that the reader finishes both with pleasure (for its satisfying denouement and pleasing circularity) and with sadness (at having to leave the story behind).' New Internationalist'Some people say that all stories are about either love or war. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Korea, Kim’s epic debut novel is about both.' Harper's Bazaar US, 'Best Books of 2021''Gorgeous prose and unforgettable characters combine to make a literary masterpiece.' Kirkus, (starred review)'Kim's dreamy, intense debut is both a sure-footed historical account of the Korean struggle for independence from Japan and the emotionally fraught story of several people whose lives are inextricably tied together... The prose is ravishing.' Publishers Weekly'An immersive historical novel set in occupied Korea with a sweeping cast of characters whose lives intersect over half a century.' Lit Hub, 'Most Anticipated Books of 2021''This epic historical novel offers an entrancing glimpse into a colourful world of love and conflict.' Daily Mail, 'Must Reads'

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Book SynopsisMeet Elizabeth and discover there is no greater happiness to be found than when lost in a wilderness of a garden, with bird cherries, lilacs, hollyhocks and lilies crowding the vision. This is her sanctuary from a host of unreasonable demands, whether from the Man of Wrath (husband), babies, servants and (worst of all horrors) house guests. Plunge into her charming diaries and be warned: you won't be able to remain indoors.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary piece of work...it has a freshness, a freakish charm, an irrepressible energy -- Elizabeth Jane HowardA gem of a book: rare, simple, innocent and charming -- Susan HillUnusual in the way that the sympathetic female narrator either cheerfully disregarded or, more often than not, gently mocked her husband and family. The book was a wild success and by 1899 it had run through 21 editions. * Independent *A witty tale about marrying a richer, older man and finding liberation from a stifling world of elitism through gardening. It was a risky tale for its time, and still feels modern on both love and the garden. * Guardian *Delightful * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisJames Falconer returns in the third House of Falconer historical novel from multi-million copy bestseller Barbara Taylor Bradford.The Somme, 1916. James Falconer, once a barrow boy on a London market, stands in the trenches, awaiting the command to go over the top. Away from his business empire in London, he is simply a soldier, war the great leveller.But, unlike his men, and unknown to them, deep down, Falconer doesn't care if he lives or dies.When a face from the past offers James the chance to repair his fractured relationship with his estranged daughter, Leonie, he must decide if he can hold different things dear and make space in his life for love.But the war has left terrible scars, both personal and professional, and swept huge changes through the glittering world he once inhabited. James must weather myriad storms as he attempts to right past wrongs and build a new life.''Bradford's tale is enriched by dynamic characters, especially James, who heroically persists in his effortTrade Review Praise for Barbara Taylor Bradford ‘An extravagant, absorbing novel of love, courage, ambition, war, death and passion.’New York Times ‘A mighty saga. Little has been so riveting since Gone With the Wind’ Evening News ‘A long, satisfying novel of money, power, passion and revenge, set against the sweep of 20th-century history.’Los Angeles Times ‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world’s best at spinning yarns’ Guardian ‘A classic saga of loyalty, secrets, passion and intrigue … if you’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Downton, this is for you’ Daily Mail ‘A stately home, a dangerous secret and two families whose fates have been intertwined for generations … a gripping period piece set on the brink of the Great War. Exquisite escapism of the highest order’ The Lady

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for The Women’s Prize for Fiction. From the bestselling author of The Dutch House, Commonwealth and Bel Canto, Winner of The Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Pen/Faulkner Award. A magician (with one memorable appearance on the Johnny Carson Show to his credit) takes the name Parsifal. He is gay. He has a Vietnamese lover, Phan. When Phan dies of AIDS, Parsifal marries the woman who has always adored him and who has lived with them both, his assistant Sabine. Then Parsifal himself dies in California, suddenly and shockingly, of an aneurysm. Parsifal always said that he had no living family and that he came from wealthy upscale Connecticut stock. The reality is very different, as Sabine learns from his lawyer. He came from a poor Nebraska family and they are very much alive. Indeed his mother and sister are on their way to California to meet Sabine, the daughter- and sister-in-law they know nothing about. It is bad that her husband has died. What Sabine must now cope with is coming to terms with his horrific past and the reason he divorced himself from his family and roots.Trade Review‘Original, sparkling, funny and sad – a book you read in one gulp and want to revisit immediately’ Penelope Lively, Daily Telegraph ‘A delicate exploration of impossible love and new-found friendship’ Guardian ‘The kindliness of The Magician's Assistant is beguiling, and Patchett is an adroit, graceful writer’ Suzanne Berne, New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisSilent Night is an unforgettable story of love, heartache, and the strength we draw from those we love. Escape with the world’s favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel, at her most moving and compelling.Paige Watts is the ultimate stage mother. The daughter of Hollywood royalty, Paige channels her own acting dreams into making her daughter, Emma, a star. By the age of nine, Emma is playing a central role in a hit TV show. Then everything is shattered by unforeseeable tragedy.Now Emma is living with her Aunt Whitney, who had chosen a very different path from Paige. Whitney was always the career-driven older sister, loving a no-strings relationship and hating the cult of celebrity that enveloped her family. But at a moment’s notice, Whitney must change her life in every way. Will the rewards of motherhood make up for the life she left behind?Emotionally involving and deeply inspiring, Silent Night explores how the heart has mysterious healing powers of its own, and that sometimes the best things happen when we think all is lost . . .

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Book SynopsisWith glamorous locations and heart-breaking twists, Christmas in the Snow by Karen Swan is all you need for a truly decadent Christmas holiday. The perfect gift - even if it's just to yourself.No secret stays buried forever . . .In London, the snow is falling and Christmas is just around the corner - but Allegra Fisher barely has time to notice. She's pitching for the biggest deal of her career and can't afford to fail. And when she meets attractive stranger, Sam Kemp, on the plane to the meeting, she can't afford to lose her focus either. She learned to shut off her emotions long ago and only her sister and best friend Isobel knows why. But when Allegra finds herself up against Sam for the bid, their passion quickly turns sour.In Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, a long-lost mountain hut is discovered in the snow after sixty years and the last person expecting to become involved is Allegra - she hasn't even heard of the woman they Trade ReviewHide indoors with a glass of wine and lose yourself in this -- HeatDeliciously glamorous, irresistibly romantic -- Hello!As sassy and glamorous as a champagne cocktail -- Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisBoy, Snow, Bird is a haunting and beautiful retelling of the Snow White myth, from author of the award-winning White is for Witching.Trade ReviewA spellbinding, wholly original look at families and the secrets they keep . . . An absolutely amazing and absorbing read * Marie Claire *Gloriously unsettling . . . it's clearly the book she's been waiting for . . . the greatest joy of reading Oyeyemi will always be style: jagged and capricious at moments, lush and rippled at others, always singular, like the voice-over of a fever dream. * New York Times *Boy, Snow, Bird is a haunting, tender portrait of three women from one of our generation's most talented literary writers * Stylist *Boy, Snow, Bird is among my favorite new releases for this year already. A retelling of the Snow White fairy-tale that focuses on race, it's a sensitive, intelligent treatment of a subject most fiction still sidesteps. Fans of Adichie's Americanah who also like a little fantasy in their coffee will be enchanted, I think. * Flavorwire *You don't want to leave Boy, Snow, Bird . . . a joy; the kind of fiction where you can wallow in the language and thrill at her inventiveness. * Emerald Street *One of my favourite books this year is Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi. It is a modern version of the Snow White fairy tale and challenges the origins of meaning. -- Jenni Fagan * The Herald *Vibrant, funny and poignant * Big Issue *Striking, shimmering fiction . . . Boy, Snow, Bird is an intoxicatingly immersive riff on the myth of the evil stepmother * Metro *Oyeyemi writes beautiful prose, can adopt a sassy American idiom with assurance and produces sentences that no one else would think of . . . Boy's is a unique narrative voice * The Times *An extraordinary modern fairy tale, with huge international buzz * Red magazine *A powerful intertwining of fairytale and reality . . . Boy, Snow and Bird are brilliant creation, and through these three appealing and mysterious characters Oyeyemi examines female identity in all its delightful and terrifying complexity . . . Oyeyemi is a master of language; her writing is beautiful and precise, and her ability to hide deep meaning in unassuming words is breathtaking. This is a bewitching book, in every way. * The List *Oyeyemi is the cleverest in the land * Washington Post *'Riveting, brilliant and emotionally rich . . . Dense with fully realized characters, startling images, original observations and revelatory truths, this masterpiece engages the reader's heart and mind as it captures both the complexities of racial and gender identity in the 20th century and the more intimate complexities of love in all its guises. * Kirkus *Helen Oyeyemi consolidates her position as one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists 2013 with the publication of her fifth novel, a story about the perception and power of appearances and race, and their potential destructiveness . . . An enchanting and captivating book. * Independent *

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Book Synopsis When a young woman faces unimaginable heartache, she vows to make a difference... A moving saga of anguish, hope and never-ceasing fortitude, The Empty Cradle is a spell-binding and unforgettable tale from bestselling author of No One''s Girl, Mothering Sunday and The Little Angel, Rosie Goodwin. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Dilly Court.''Goodwin uses her deft touch, natural warmth and superb storytelling skills in a spellbinding story of love, loss and redemption'' - Lancashire Evening PostTo the outside world, Charlotte is the privileged daughter of the local vicar. Behind closed doors, however, she is the prisoner of her controlling father. As she grows up, Charlotte longs for freedom, but her captivating innocence leads her into trouble. Sent to Ireland to hide a shameful pregnancy, she discovers that once again her father has deceived her. She is forced into a convent''s harsh and humiliaTrade ReviewPraise for Rosie's first novel, THE BAD APPLE: 'Rosie Goodwin is a born storyteller - she'll make you cry, she'll make you laugh, but most of all you'll care for her characters and lose yourself in her story. An author destined for the top * Jeannie Johnson, author of THE REST OF OUR DAYS *Rosie deserves all her success. She is a talented storyteller and will go all the way to the top * Dee Williams *The tearjerker of the season...[a] heart-rending tale * Western Mail *A promising and well-drawn debut * Lancashire Evening Post *A good tearjerker...compelling * Reading Evening Post *A gifted writer... Not only is Goodwin's characterisation and dialogue compelling, but her descriptive writing is a joy * Nottingham Evening Post *A heart-throbber of a story from Goodwin that puts many other so-called emotional blockbusters in the shade * Northern Echo *Goodwin is a fabulous writer...she reels the reader in surprisingly quickly and her style involves lots of twists and turns that are in no way predictable * Worcester Evening News *A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisNow a major film, starring Dennis Quaid.From W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog's Purpose, the phenomenal New York Times Number One bestseller about the unbreakable bond between a dog and their human.Buddy is a good dog. He thought he had found and fulfilled his purpose, over the course of several lives, in helping his beloved boy Ethan. On the farm, Buddy watches over Ethan’s granddaughter, curious baby Clarity, trying to keep her out of mischief. He begins to realize that this is a little girl very much in need of a dog of her own.Buddy realizes that he has a new destiny. Reborn once more, he's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs – who will take care of his girl? With her selfish mother determined to keep them apart, and an unpredictable, obsessive boyfriend, Clarity's life threatens to spiral out of control – she needs help more than ever, but can Buddy find his way back to her in time?A charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion, A Dog's Journey asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us? This is a moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers.Trade ReviewReaders will devour this wonderful story and cry from beginning to end. Sweet and heartfelt, Cameron likely has another bestseller on his hands -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

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Book Synopsis ‘Sarah Morgan is back in style with a perfect snow-filled read’ Woman & Home ‘A sparkling winter romance with a lively family at the centre of it all’ Woman ‘As always, Sarah Morgan takes us to a glamorous setting and throws in a whole heap of drama. Such fun!’ Heat ‘An emotional, uplifting and heart-warming winter novel that’s perfect for those chilly nights in’ OK! * * * * * In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie's whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret about their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland. Rosie’s older sister Katie is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself. If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans… Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiance but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived – how can she tell them she's not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget. * * * * * A Wedding in December is everyone’s favourite read this Christmas: ‘Blissful escapism, vicarious luxury and enough romance to warm your heart…a must-read item on your pre-festive To-Do list’ Penny Parkes, author of the bestselling Practice Makes Perfect ‘A Wedding in December was just the tonic needed . . . Put your feet up, relax and unwind in front of the fire with a glass of mulled wine and this gorgeous tale, you won't be disappointed’ Amazon 5* ‘It sucks you right in, leaving you desperate to see how everything comes together’ Amazon 5* ‘Best read this year’ Amazon 5*Trade Review PRAISE FOR A WEDDING IN DECEMBER ‘You can always rely on Sarah Morgan to deliver blissful escapism, vicarious luxury and enough romance to warm your heart no matter how frosty your winter. A Wedding in December has to be a must-read item on your pre-festive To Do list’ Penny Parkes, author of the bestselling Practice Makes Perfect ‘I raced through the wonderful A Wedding in December, unable to put down this deliriously romantic story of a family forced to confront its secrets amidst the snowy peaks and crackling frosts of Aspen, Colorado. This is escapist fiction at its absolute best, full of warmth, humour and heart – with everything a romantic reader could want. Irresistible, joyful and a celebration of family love’ Katie Marsh, author of My Everything ‘A sparkling winter romance with a lively family at the centre of it all’ Woman ‘Sarah Morgan is back in style with a perfect snow-filled read’Woman & Home ‘An emotional, uplifting and heart-warming winter novel that’s perfect for those chilly nights in’ OK! ‘As always, Sarah Morgan takes us to a glamorous setting and throws in a whole heap of drama. Such fun!’ Heat ‘The perfect light-hearted read for that Boxing Day food coma’Living North

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Book SynopsisTHE NO. 1 BESTSELLERHer husband has betrayed her. Can she forgive him - and should she? From the bestselling author of Three Weddings and a Proposal and The Missing WifeWhat readers are saying about Her Husband''s Mistake:''I loved this book. So many will be able to identify'' *****''A truly brilliant book'' *****''Could not put it down!'' *****''Just had to keep on reading to find out what''s was happening'' *****Dave''s made a BIG mistake. What''s Roxy going to do about it? The riveting new novel from No. 1 bestselling author Sheila O''Flanagan. Perfect for readers of Marian Keyes and Amanda Prowse. Roxy''s marriage has always been rock solid.After twenty years, and with two carefree kids, she and Dave are still the perfect couple.Until the day she comes home unexpectedly, and finds DaTrade ReviewPraise for HER HUSBAND'S MISTAKE: 'Another gem from O'Flanagan * Heat *A classic tale of the perfect wife and mother rediscovering her potential * Women's Weekly *An inspiring tale of strength, love and self-discovery from Roxy's dilemma. It's a novel that will resonate with many women, and you'll be cheering Roxy on throughout * S Magazine *Praise for Sheila O'Flanagan's irresistible novels: 'A hugely enjoyable romance, written with pace and heart. It will make you long to jump on a plane * Sunday Mirror *You'll race through this warm, heart-felt read * Best *This GONE GIRL-esque novel will have you gripped until the very end * Look *Escapist in every sense, this easy-to-read romance has a steely edge * Sunday Mirror *I read the book in one sitting as it was so enjoyable, full of romance and kept you riveted until the last page * Woman's Way *An exciting love story with a deliciously romantic denouement * Sunday Express *Make some space in your suitcase * Candis *The perfect holiday companion... O'Flanagan is one of our best-known, best-loved and most prolific women's fiction authors * Irish Independent *

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Book Synopsis'Prepare to have your heart broken' – Good HousekeepingWoman & Home Book Club PickPoland, 1941. A mother. A child. An impossible choice.After the Jews in their town are rounded up, Róza and her five-year-old daughter, Shira, seek shelter in a local farmer’s barn. They spend their days and nights in silence to avoid being caught.When their safe haven is shattered, Róza faces an impossible choice: whether to keep her daughter close by her side, or give her the chance to survive by letting her go.A deeply moving novel about the unbreakable bond between parent and child, The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner powerfully portrays the triumph of humanity and hope in even the darkest circumstances.'If you only read one book this year, make it The Yellow Bird Sings' – AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird'Room meets Schindler’s List . . . a beautifully written tale of mothers and daughters' – Kate Quinn, author of The Huntress Trade ReviewPrepare to have your heart broken * Good Housekeeping *If you only read one book this year, make it The Yellow Bird Sings . . . Jennifer Rosner’s novel stands alongside The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as one of those profoundly special World War Two novels you know you will never forget -- AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs BirdThe Yellow Bird Sings is at the top of my reading list * Elle *A captivating, quietly powerful telling of music, loss, longing and hope * Living Magazines *Room meets Schindler’s List . . . a beautifully written tale of mothers and daughters -- Kate Quinn, author of The Huntress and The Alice NetworkTold beneath an overarching sky of the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter, this is a story readers will continue to ponder long afterward -- Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were Yours and Before and AfterThis is an absolutely beautiful and necessary novel, full of heartbreak but also hope, about the bond between mother and daughter, and the sacrifices made for love -- Mary Beth Keane * New York Times *A captivating and emotional tale about the love between a mother and daughter * ReadPlus *A deeply moving novel in which even the weakest and most vulnerable are sustained by the power of music, stories and love in a music, stories and love in a time of terror and tyranny * Herald *A captivating read * Good Reading *Outstanding . . . it will appeal particularly to fans Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief * Glam Adelaide *Rosner’s debut novel is a World War II story with a Room-like twist, one that also deftly examines the ways in which art and imagination can sustain us . . . an effective work of suspense, and Rosner’s understanding of how art plays a role in our lives, even at the worst of times, is impressive * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisA Richard & Judy Book Club Pick.A delightfully sinister story for the influencer age, People Like Her is the twisting, page-turning debut thriller from Ellery Lloyd. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies).‘I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ – Abigail Dean, author of Girl APeople like Emmy Jackson. They always have. Especially online, where she is Instagram sensation Mamabare, famous for telling the unvarnished truth about modern parenthood.But Emmy isn’t as honest as she’d like the fans to believe. She may think she has her followers fooled, but someone out there knows the truth and plans to make her pay . . .'Brilliantly original' – Clare Mackintosh, author of After the End'Deliciously dark and devious' – Red 'Highly recommended' – Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange'Slick and sharp' – The TimesTrade ReviewI inhaled People Like Her in a single sitting . . . Breathlessly fast, brilliantly original. Bravo, Ellery Lloyd! -- Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go and After the EndGrabbed me from the first few pages and didn't let go . . . Plotted to perfection with skillfully woven twists and turns -- Alice Feeney, author of Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy DarkerAs gripping and addictive as Instagram * Daily Mail *If you're a fan of Liane Moriarty and Lucy Foley, then this is one for you * New! Magazine *Social media has never been so dark or so compelling . . . Had me hooked right up to the jaw-dropping end -- Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife and He Started ItFast-paced and insightful * Daily Mirror *I loved this eye-opening and compelling look at the horrors of Insta influencing - funny until it goes very dark indeed -- Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange and The Lies You ToldA smart read * Stylist *I tore through People Like Her, suspecting absolutely everyone and delighting in being wrong-footed at every turn . . . Clever, contemporary and thought provoking -- Caz Frear, author of Shed No Tears and Sweet Little LiesCompulsively readable, deeply unsettling and deliciously accurate - a long overdue skewering of Instaparents that I read in one sitting -- Francesca Hornak, author of Seven Days of UsSuspenseful, thought-provoking, clever, and I suspected everyone . . . A truly brilliant and a refreshingly original read -- Karen Hamilton, author of The Last Wife and The Perfect GirlfriendWhat a gripping page turner! Loved it -- Charlotte Levin, author of If I Can't Have YouAbsolutely loved [it] . . . Twisty and dark, like all great thrillers, but very, very funny -- Abbie Greaves, author of The Silent TreatmentDeliciously dark and devious * Red *Gripping and caustically funny * Sunday Times *Utterly addictive and gripping * Fabulous Magazine *Gone Girl-esque . . . slick and sharp * The Times *Sharp observation, well drawn characters and cleverly ramped-up paranoia * Guardian *A real page-turner * Bella Magazine *We couldn't put this book down. A brilliant read * Closer *A slick thriller about the perils of putting oneself in the social spotlight * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisA mother and son inhabit an isolated and increasingly dangerous private world.The third and final installment of Ariana Harwicz's "Involuntary Trilogy" finds us on familiar, disquieting ground. Under the spell of a mother’s madness, the French countryside transforms into a dreamscape of interconnected imagery: animals, desire, the functions of the body. Most troublingly: the comfort of a teenage son. Scorning the bourgeois mores and conventionality of their small town, she withdraws him from school and the two embark on ever more antisocial and dangerous behavior. Harwicz is at her best here, building an interior world so robust, and so grotesque, that it eclipses our shared reality. Savage, and savagely funny, she leaves us singed, if not scorched.Trade Review"As ever, Harwicz both impresses and repels with her blistering descriptions of the extremes of human behavior." —Publishers Weekly"It is hard to match this, or any of the books in this trilogy, for sheer searing memorability." —Irish Times"Disturbingly brilliant – and brilliantly disturbing – Tender is a satiating end to Harwicz’s unconventional collection." —The Wee Review**********Praise for Ariana HarwiczUncomfortable and fascinating, Harwicz drags us on a turbulent voyage of self-discovery via the characters’ analysis of their own past and present. VANITY FAIR (UK)Man Booker International Prize (Longlist)Society of Authors Valle-Inclán Prize (Shortlist)Best Translated Book Award (Finalist)Internationaler Literaturpreis (Shortlist)Republic of Consciousness Prize (Shortlist)"A touch of David Lynch." —The Guardian"Celebrating lust and bolshiness with an intensity worthy of Clarice Lispector." —The Times Literary Supplement"The over-all effect is exacting…. And yet “Die, My Love” isn’t truly beholden to plot. The thrill is in the human as animal, and even as parasite." —The New Yorker"Die, My Love is impressive for the force of the narrator’s insatiable rage, which fragments the boundaries of the self. [Anne Enright]" —New York Review of Books"Unrestrained and unadorned, Harwicz’s writing has a wild beauty.... A portrait of motherhood, passion, and mental illness that cuts to the bone." —Kirkus"We are used to female narrators who occupy one of several familiar niches: blandly ‘likeable’, ‘flawed’, or pathological; murderers or abusers who are profiled with just enough sympathy to make us feel humane as we judge them. Harwicz takes us somewhere more profound and forces us to confront the thought that these easy fictional ‘explanations’ are specious. Lurking inside all of us is the potential for horror."" —Hari Kunzru , author of THE IMPRESSIONIST and GODS WITHOUT MEN"The prose of Ariana Harwicz embarks on a vertiginous linguistic journey that joyfully shreds all vestiges of common sense."" —María Sonia Cristoff , author of FALSE CALM**********"Dangerously addictive." —The Guardian"A precise, intense, ruthless mosaic that demands we read carefully, never quickly." —Literary Hub"Celebrating lust and bolshiness with an intensity worthy of Clarice Lispector." —The Times Literary Supplement"Harwicz succeeds in luring the reader into the darker aspects of the human mind." —Publishers Weekly"Ariana Harwicz is the real deal, the very definition of an artist."" —Adam Biles , author of FEEDING TIME"Ariana Harwicz is wet respite from deathless, sexless, bloodless art. "" —Melissa Broder , author of THE PISCES and SO SAD TODAY"Ariana Harwicz is an intensely passionate and fearless writer whose irresistible prose deserves to be read far and wide."" —Claire-Louise Bennett , author of POND"A kick up the arse to the literary novel. Feebleminded disassembles form, sensibility, everything... at once a riot (a revolution!) and a headtrip."" —Joanna Walsh , author of VERTIGO and BREAK.UP"Harwicz achieves an asphyxiating writing, saturated with images of great beauty despite their disturbing character." —El País"The acoustic quality of her prose, the pulse of her voice, the intensity of her imagery make her subjects so daring, so relentless, so damned and unconventional - very hard to drop or ever to forget."" —Lina Meruane , author of FALSE CALM"Unrelenting and unforgettable, the Argentine author’s latest novel is a breathtaking, hectic ride, as well as a strangely exhilarating story that confirms her as one of the most formidable writers at work today." —Jeremy Garber, Powell's BookshopGlobetrotting: Your sneak preview of books in translation —New York Times"This is a novel whose characters’s conflicts spill out of the page and into the prose used to tell their story, making for a searing read." —Volume 1 Brooklyn"Feebleminded is a nuclear bomb of recent literature from Argentina, a book of exceptional power with febrile characters." —Pagina/12**********

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Book Synopsis_______________SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2018WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2017ONE OF BARACK OBAMA''S BEST BOOKS OF 2017SELECTED AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE NEW STATESMAN, THE FINANCIAL TIMES, THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, TIME AND THE BBC_______________''A must'' - Margaret Atwood''A searing, urgent read'' - Celeste Ng''Staggering'' - Marlon James''Disarmingly beautiful'' - Spectator''Blazing with power, grief and tenderness'' - Financial Times_______________An intimate portrait of a family and an epic tale of hope and struggle, Sing, Unburied, Sing examines the ugly truths at the heart of the American story and the power and limitations of family bonds. Jojo is thirteen years old and trying to understand what it means to be a man. His mother, Leonie, is in constant conflict with herself anTrade ReviewThis wrenching new novel by Jesmyn Ward digs deep into the not-buried heart of the American nightmare. A must -- Margaret Atwood * Twitter *A novel as blazingly hymn-like as the title suggests -- Jon McGregor * New Statesman 'Books of the Year' *Beautiful in every sense ... Her characters feel wholly true ... Long after the end, we continue to worry after them, love them in spite of their faults, and feel their pain * Spectator *Hauntingly lyrical * Mail on Sunday *A powerfully alive novel haunted by ghosts; a road trip where people can go but they can never leave; a visceral and intimate drama that plays out like a grand epic, Sing, Unburied, Sing is staggering -- Marlon James, Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2015The connection between the injustices of the past and the desperation of present are clearly drawn in Sing, Unburied, Sing, a book that charts the lines between the living and the dead, the loving and the broken. I am a huge fan of Jesmyn Ward’s work, and this book proves that she is one of the most important writers in America today -- Ann PatchettWard is a lyrical, visceral storyteller, one who is as adept at conveying the tenderness of sibling love as the terror and brutality of racist violence * Daily Mail *Blazing with power, grief and tenderness, Jesmyn Ward’s third novel breathes danger into the classic American road trip … What might, in less sure hands, have remained a local tale, makes a searing story of universal power … Ward takes the territory made so familiar by writers such as William Faulkner or Eudora Welty, and reclaims it * Financial Times *Ghosts, the voices of the dying, painful journeys across an unforgiving country. This is Faulkner territory. Ward’s updated version is gruesomely fascinating, especially as she rounds out her story with characters of real-world complexity … Her cool handling of the mythical tropes of journeying and listening to ancestral voices makes this a harrowing, essential novel for our times * The Times *Maybe that’s the miracle here: that ordinary people whose lives have become so easy to classify into categories like rural poor, drug-dependent, products of the criminal justice system, possess the weight and the value of the mythic … Such feats of empathy are difficult, all too often impossible to muster in real life. But they feel genuinely inevitable when offered by a writer of such lyric imagination as Ward * New York Times Book Review *Ward's prose is characterised by its lyrical beauty: woven throughout are precise, elegant registrations of sensory impression, miniature epiphanies that momentarily lift us from the immediate situation ... undeniably well-executed * Sunday Times *It is rich, sometimes unbearably so ... The signal characteristic of Ward’s prose is its lyricism ... the effect is hypnotic ... This, and her ease with vernacular language, puts Ward in fellowship with such forebears as Zora Neale Hurston and William Faulkner ... The tone and atmosphere in “Sing, Unburied, Sing” call out, too, to Toni Morrison—particularly “Beloved,” whose most sorrowful revelations are echoed in the climax of “Sing” * New Yorker *Combines aspects of the American road novel and the ghost story with an exploration of the long aftershocks of a hurricane -- Notable Books of the Year * New York Times Book Review *Most effective as a poetic critique of US history ... A brooding, pained meditation on the proposition, spelled out by Colson Whitehead in The Underground Railroad, that “America is a ghost in the darkness”’ * Guardian *The heir to Faulkner * Time *However eternal its concerns, “Sing, Unburied, Sing" is perfectly poised for the moment * New York Times *One of the most powerfully poetic writers in the country ... Readers may be reminded of the trapped spirits in George Saunders’s recent novel, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” but Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” is a more direct antecedent * Washington Post *Speaks to maintaining hope in the face of one’s plight, and the true strength (and fragility) of familial bonds * Buzzfeed *An unforgettable novel about race, love and history * Elle *Sing, Unburied, Sing is a road novel turned on its head, and a family story with its feet to the fire. Lyric and devastating, Ward's unforgettable characters straddle past and present in this spellbinding return to the rural Mississippi of her first book. You'll never read anything like it -- Ayana Mathis, author of 'The Twelve Tribes of Hattie'A searing, urgent read for anyone who thinks the shadows of slavery and Jim Crow have passed, and anyone who assumes the ghosts of the past are easy to placate. It’s hard to imagine a more necessary book for this political era -- Celeste Ng, author of 'Little Fires Everywhere' and 'Everything I Never Told You'In prose that is simultaneously luminous and achingly honest, Ward captures moments of beauty, tenderness, and resilience against a bleak landscape of crushing poverty, racism, addiction, and incarceration * MacArthur Foundation *If Sing, Unburied, Sing is proof of anything, it’s that when it comes to spinning poetic tales of love and family, and the social metastasis that often takes place but goes unspoken of in marginalized communities—let alone the black American South—Jesmyn Ward is, by far, the best doing it today. Another masterpiece -- Jason Reynolds, author of 'Ghost'Staggering ... A furious brew with hints of Toni Morrison and Homer’s 'The Odyssey' * Boston Globe *The terrible beauty of life along the nation’s lower margins is summoned in this bold, bright, and sharp-eyed road novel … As with the best and most meaningful American fiction these days, old truths are recast here in new realities rife with both peril and promise * Kirkus *Her lyrical prose takes on, alternately, the tones of a road novel and a ghost story ... [Sing, Unburied, Sing] establishes Ward as one of the most poetic writers in the conversation about America’s unfinished business in the black South * Atlantic *[A] tour de force ... Ward is an attentive and precise writer who dazzles with natural and supernatural observations and lyrical details ... she continues telling stories we need to hear with rare clarity and power * O, the Oprah Magazine *Electric ... a harrowing panorama of the rural South * L.A. Review of Books *A tale that shimmers * Mother Jones *Ward’s tale is an emotional, political and spiritual powerhouse that unblinkingly underlines America’s heinous treatment of black people – from slavery to the present day … while it’s a book filled with savagery, there is also tenderness, love and hope. You can feel the energy buzzing between its covers * Emerald Street *If you only read a single novel this month, make it Jesmyn Ward's utterly brilliant Sing, Unburied, Sing * Vogue *The book’s Southern gothic aura recalls the dense, head-spinning prose of William Faulkner or Flannery O’Connor. But the voice is entirely Ward's own, a voluptuous magical realism that takes root in the darkest corners of human behavior ... Ward, whose Salvage the Bones won a National Book Award, has emerged as one of the most searing and singularly gifted writers working today * Entertainment Weekly *Gorgeous ... Always clear-eyed, Ward knows history is a nightmare. But she insists all the same that we might yet awaken and sing * Chicago Tribune *In this lush and lonely novel, Ward lets the dead sing. It's a kind of burial * NPR *Very beautiful * Vox *Poetic and powerful * Pride Magazine *An American road novel transplanted to 21st century rural America, looking at race, belonging and how the past can never be left behind. Utterly captivating, this is a special book that will make your heart and soul ache * Stylist *It should come as no surprise that the novel has garnered comparisons to Toni Morrison’s Beloved. Echoes of Faulkner nestle amongst Ward’s pages too. … Ward’s prose drips with poetry, even at the novel’s darkest moments * The White Review *This is the most grittily realistic book I’ve read in a while - it just happens to be a ghost story. Somehow, despite its fantastical content, Sing, Unburied, Sing feels distinctly believable … But it’s the love that shines incandescently from the pages here, blasting through all the oppressive threat and tension and lighting the novel up from within * Shiny New Books *Recommended by the likes of Margaret Atwood and Marlon James, Jesmyn Ward’s latest novel is one of Autumn’s must-reads ... Part road novel, part ghost story, this is a powerful exploration of race and the way the past * Anothermag *The civil liberty struggles faced by Americans today, and the country’s history are reflected in Ward’s affecting prose * The i *Themes of drug addiction and child abuse feature in this powerful tale, with ghostly figures from the past returning to admonish Leonie for the choices she has made in her life … impressive * Bristol Post *The cult read: Sing, Unburied, Sing won the National Book Award this year. It feels particularly timely, centring on a family road trip through a fractured Mississippi * Sunday Times Style *Ward’s third book set in the fictional town of Bois Sauvage, based on her hometown of DeLisle, Miss., conjures the same raw emotion of her previous works, like the Hurricane Katrina novel Salvage the Bones. But this time, a sense of magical realism deepens the ghostly sense of the past reaching out to touch – or even strangle – the present. Ward’s novel is a true triple threat, expert in prose, human observation and social commentary * Time Magazine *Full of haunted, lyrical beauty -- Summer Reading Guide * Guardian Australia *Sing, Unburied, Sing grapples with the long shadow cast by slavery in the American South – not just the cycles of inherited trauma and alienation, but the mass incarceration of black men today … In this novel Ward shows again that she can place harsh truths about America’s racial problems within a gorgeous, lyrical tale * Prospect *Jesmyn Ward is an important new voice of the American South – one developing, perhaps, into the twenty-first-century’s answer to William Faulkner. Fiercely partisan yet unillusioned, she displays an impressive understand of politics and idiom. But perhaps most striking is her sustained and clear-eyed attention to people who, when noticed at all, are more usually consigned to a novel’s periphery. Here they take centre stage and are depicted with the kind of piercing clarity born of love -- Kate Webb * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BOOKER PRIZE SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF THIS MOURNABLE BODY and NERVOUS CONDITIONSONE OF THE BBC''S 100 WOMEN FOR 2020As Zimbabwe emerges into independence, Tambudzai Sigauke embarks on her second year at the Young Ladies'' College of the Sacred Heart. Determined to excel, Tambu exhausts herself with her efforts to climb to the top of the school''s honour rolls. The further she pushes herself, however, the farther she feels from any reward; and the roots of colonialism threaten to trip her at every step. The sequel to Nervous Conditions is as moving, darkly witty, and riveting as its predecessor.Trade Review'The whole novel is an examination of Tambu's increasingly warped perspective,achieved through a focused, almost claustrophobic first-person point of view and a masterly deployment of flashbacks. We inhabit Tambu's mind so totally that we often have to pull back to remind ourselves that this is not reality, but the world as Tambu sees it.'- Helon Habila, Guardian'From these novels we not only learnt of but lived through [Tambu's] formative years: being sidelined in favour of her brother; her reaction to his death; and the violence she experienced at school.' - John Self, The Times

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Book Synopsis'Her gallery of personages is huge, her scene painting superb, her pathos controlled, her humour quiet and civilised' Anthony Burgess'So glittering is the overall parade - and so entertaining the surface - that the trilogy remains excitingly vivid; it amuses, it diverts and it informs, and to do these things so elegantly is no small achievement' Sunday Times'A fantastically tart and readable account of life in eastern Europe at the start of the war' Sarah WatersThe Balkan Trilogy is the story of a marriage and of a war, a vast, teeming, and complex masterpiece in which Olivia Manning brings the uncertainty and adventure of civilian existence under political and military siege to vibrant life.At the heart of the trilogy are newly-weds Guy and Harriet Pringle, who arrive in Bucharest - the so-called Paris of the East - in the autumn of 1939, just weeks after the German invasion of Poland. Guy's lecturing job awaits, alongside friends and the ever-ardent Sophie - but for Harriet, alone and naive, it's a strange new life. Other surprises follow: Romania joins the Axis, and before long German soldiers overrun the capital. The Pringles flee south to Greece, part of a group of refugees made up of White Russians, journalists, con artists, and dignitaries. In Athens, however, the couple will face a new challenge of their own...Trade ReviewMagnificent ... full of wit, sharp insight and vivid description. * The Times *A fantastically tart and readable account of life in eastern Europe at the start of war -- Sarah WatersSo glittering is the overall parade- and so entertaining the surface that the trilogy remains excitingly vivid; it amuses, it diverts and it informs, and to do these things so elegantly is no small achievement. * Sunday Times *Wonderfully entertaining * Observer *One must salute the brilliance ... the exactness of sights and sounds, the precise touches of light and scent, the gestures and entrances * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisNow a Major Film Starring Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)As flood waters close over London, a woman gives birth to a child. Heartfelt and urgently original, The End We Start From is the compulsive debut novel from Megan Hunter.'Engrossing, compelling and hopeful' – Naomi Alderman, author of The Power'Stunning' – Benedict CumberbatchDays after giving birth, mother and child are forced to leave home in search of safety. The journey north with be dangerous – but new life and fresh hope push them on . . .A startlingly beautiful story of a family's survival, The End We Start From is a haunting but hopeful dystopian vision of a familiar world made dangerous and unstable.'Virginia Woolf does cli-fi . . . tremendous' – Independent'I was moved, terrified, uplifted – sometimes all three at once' - Tracy Chevalier'Beautifully spare and haunting' - Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station ElevenTrade ReviewThe End We Start From is strange and powerful, and very apt for these uncertain times. I was moved, terrified, uplifted – sometimes all three at once. It takes skill to manage that, and Hunter has a poet’s understanding of how to make each word count. -- Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl EarringThe End We Start From is a beautifully spare, haunting meditation on the persistence of life after catastrophe. I loved it. -- Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station ElevenA shot of distilled story . . . engrossing, compelling and finally hopeful -- Naomi Alderman, author of The Power, winner of the 2017 Baileys Women's Prize for FictionI can’t remember ever having read a novel quite as sparing or as daring as Megan Hunter’s The End We Start From, or one that delivers so mighty an impact from such delicate materials. It is a moving, wistful and compelling debut. -- Jim Crace, author of HarvestAn exceptional, alarming and beautiful book, which still echoes months after I finished reading it. Megan Hunter is a writer of unnerving power. -- Evie Wyld, author of All the Birds, SingingI'll be recommending this book for years to come. Utterly brilliant, hugely important. Here's the thing: it's perfect. -- Nathan Filer, author of Costa Prize-winning The Shock of the FallExtraordinary. Megan Hunter's prose is exquisite, her depiction of a world descending into chaos is frighteningly real, and yet, it is her portrayal of motherhood - that tender-terrifying experience of bringing a child into a world - that has remained with me. The End We Start From is an incredible, original exploration of all that beauty, boredom and bewilderment. I read it in one sitting, and was deeply moved. -- Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites and The Good PeopleThe End We Start From is relentlessly, achingly personal. Hunter reminds us that disasters are rarely experienced in panorama. Instead, we live bone-deep inside our narrator. This book is fierce, sorrowful, and spiked with moments of bright joy. -- Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Harmless Like YouThe End We Start From is so good and clever: a beautiful, timely book about survival (both domestic and global) shot through with hope and humanity -- Lisa Owens, author of Not WorkingBeautiful . . . Water isn't the thing here, love is. And how we survive as the level of love rises -- Cynan Jones, author of The Dig and The CoveExceptional, stunning. I devoured it -- Megan Bradbury, author of Everyone is WatchingA dystopia that feels utterly convincing as our narrator gives birth to her son in a London under threat of advancing flood waters. She lives in the gulp zone so must head off into a familiar territory that has become terrifying in search of shelter and safety. This slender take on new motherhood has stayed with me – not least in making me think about the UK as a place to flee from rather than to, and to imagine Londoners turned refugees. -- Cathy Rentzenbrink * Stylist *Spellbinding . . . a debut [that] packs a punch that belies its brevity, with the author's background in poetry shining through . . . The End We Start From is a slender novel, but more profoundly moving than novels six times as long. It is perfectly balanced between fear and wonder. The world around them may be falling apart in the most extraordinary way, but ordinary life goes on and, as Hunter makes us understand, what a beautiful life it is. * The Bookseller *Powerful . . . an uplifting celebration of the reality of motherhood in the face of terrifying global disaster * Daily Mail *I held my breath reading this beautiful and timely novel. With precise yet lyrical language Megan Hunter gets to the centre of who we are, where we are, and why it matters. The End We Start From is a work of art -- Christie Watson, author of Tiny Sunbirds Far AwayThis debut is a story of a new mother and her baby who are turned into refugees after a mysterious environmental crisis. The End We Start From is a relevant story of our times which shrewdly ponders the meaning of survival and humanity in desperate times * Wales Arts Review *Startling . . . beautiful and insightful. Everyone who reads this will come away feeling renewed * Elle Magazine *Megan Hunter's slender, startling debut shimmers with light, even as the novel heads into dark territory . . . tender and profound -- Psychologies Book of the MonthExtraordinary . . . The End We Start From is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, in that it shares the same narrative detachment, and the same precise poetry. It is of course told from the perspective of a mother, rather than a father, and is set in a world that is only beginning to fall into chaos. And in the midst of it all, each parent cradles their child, enchanted by their breathing. “Sometimes he sleeps so quietly it seems that he has gone.” Megan Hunter’s remarkable debut novel feels like the other half of the story * Financial Times *In a future London, a mysterious environmental crisis is causing flooding. On the day a woman gives birth to her first child, Z, her home and the city is submerged, and she and her husband R are forced to leave in search of safety. In a scant 127 pages, Megan Hunter creates a powerful and painful story of love and endurance, and of the experiences of being a mother and a refugee * Stylist *A haunting dystopian tale unlike any you’ve read before. In the aftermath of an environmental disaster, London is submerged by floodwater and the narrator, who remains unnamed, is forced to flee with her newborn baby. Despite the world as they know it crumbling around them, mother and son grow and thrive in this dangerous new Britain, where they’ve been recast as refugees. Poetic, precise, and surprisingly full of warmth, this is a beautiful story about the first months of motherhood and the places where hope springs, even in the darkest of times * AnOther *Brilliant . . . Hunter traces - with expert precision and such lyricism - who we are when life is minimised . . . an echo of Jenny Offill's Dept of Speculation . . . a visceral, poetic confession -- Sinéad Gleeson * Irish Times *Fans of Station Eleven will love this. * Red magazine *The End We Start From is an effective, unusual and ambitious debut, which keeps the reader pinned to the page * Guardian *Set in a post-apocalyptic Britain, Megan Hunter's debut is lyrical, uplifting and unmissable * Stylist *A stunning tale of motherhood. Megan has crafted a striking and frighteningly real story of a family fighting for survival that will make everyone stop and think about what kind of planet we are leaving behind for our children -- Benedict CumberbatchStrange and haunting . . . This isn’t a novel in which exposition is a problem; it’s more Virginia Woolf does cli-fi . . . Good news then that film rights have already been snapped up, by Benedict Cumberbatch’s production company SunnyMarch and Hera Pictures. Let’s just hope they do it justice; the dystopian elements are the easy sell, the beating heart of this tender and tremendous story is without doubt Hunter’s portrait of early motherhood, an all-encompassing world of its own * Independent *Megan Hunter uses words sparingly. In her startlingly poetic debut, The End We Start From, she even rations her letters. She calls her characters R and Z and each paragraph is only a sentence or two long. Hunter tangles the delight and disorientation of new motherhood with scenes of societal collapse. As everything seems to be ending, as London floods, a new life begins, hot and pink and hungry. Hunter writes with delicacy and precision; her imagery is pearlescent in places. It’s a sliver of a novel, but it shimmers. * Observer *Natural disasters and climate-related catastrophes might make for a compelling setting, but to really catch a reader's interest, you need to have the personal touch. And this is a novel that takes that principle down to its sparsest, simplest best, focusing on one woman and her child through a year of turmoil . . . best read in one sitting to fully absorb the haunting, brutal yet loving atmosphere of the narrator's journey . . . does a great job of capturing the intensity of early parenthood . . . a tale of survival in extreme conditions * SFX *Hunter's spare, drumskin-tight prose zings off the page, and ingenious descriptions abound . . . It may only consist of 127 pages of impressionistic, staccato sentences, but this is a book of wide horizons and big ideas, and it's no surprise that Benedict Cumberbatch's company have just acquired movie rights. For Hunter the future looks very bright indeed. * Scotland on Sunday *A story of sheer catastrophe, peppered with endearing experiences and milestones of new motherhood. The element which defines this short piece of dystopian fiction is the unique, elegant writing style . . . The End We Start From is beautiful, thought-provoking and most of all, hauntingly believable. It is a tale of hope at a time when the country truly needs it. A stunning debut. * Manchester Evening News *

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Book SynopsisA classic story of finding love and creating family.Robin Masterson and her ten-year-old son, Jeff, have finally moved to their dream home. Now that they have their very own backyard, Jeff thinks he needs a dog more than anything in the world - and there just happens to be one right next door! But the friendly black Lab belongs to Cole Camden, the unfriendliest man in the neighborhood.Cole hasn''t always been so solitary, so aloof. The deaths of his wife and son have embittered him, something Robin can understand. Her own much-loved husband died when Jeff was just a baby.Still, Jeff persists . . .and soon his mom and Cole are looking at each other in a whole new way.This is a first-time regular print hardcover edition of a title previously available as a mass market paperback.

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Book Synopsis''A sheer delight from start to finish'' Sophie Kinsella Come and meet Issy Randall, proud owner of The Cupcake Café . . . ''An evocative, sweet treat'' Jojo Moyes ''Gorgeous, glorious, uplifting'' Marian Keyes ''Irresistible'' Jill Mansell ''Just lovely'' Katie Fforde ''Naturally funny, warm-hearted'' Lisa Jewell ''A gobble-it-all-up-in-one-sitting kind of book'' Mike Gayle ___________________________________Issy Randall can bake. No, more than that - Issy can create stunning, mouth-wateringly divine cakes. After a childhood spent in her beloved Grampa Joe''s bakery, she has undoubtedly inherited his talent.When she''s made redundant from her safe but dull City job, Issy decides to seize the moment. Armed with recipes from Grampa, and with her best friends and local bank manager fighting her corner, The Cupcake Café opens its doors. But Issy has absolutely no ideTrade ReviewSheer indulgence from start to finish * Sophie Kinsella *

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Book SynopsisIf you enjoyed How to Keep a Secret, don’t miss Sarah Morgan’s wonderful new summer read, Family for Beginners! * * * * Your fav authors love Sarah Morgan! ‘Joyful, uplifting and overflowing with love’ Cathy Bramley‘Comfort reading at its best’ Veronica Henry ‘A master storyteller’ Laura Jane Williams‘I loved every sparkly, big-hearted, warm-hug moment’ Miranda Dickinson‘Full of warmth, humour and heart’ Katie Marsh * * * * This summer one family will discover that together, they can do anything. Matriarch Nancy knows she hasn't been the best mother but how can she ever tell her daughters the reason why? Lauren and Jenna are as close as two sisters can be and they made a pact years ago to keep a devastating secret from their mother – but is it time to come clean? Lauren's teenage daughter Mackenzie masks her own pain by keeping her mother at a distance. Her mother, aunt and grandmother keep trying to reach her but will it take a stranger to show her the true meaning of family? When life changes in an instant, the Stewart women are thrown together for a summer and suddenly they must relearn how to be a family. And whilst unravelling their secrets might be their biggest challenge, it could also be their finest moment . . . * * * * Praise for How to Keep a Secret: ‘Heart-warming, emotional, funny and real – I adored this book! Jill Shalvis ‘A warm, wonderful rich story told with care and skill that broke my heart and then put it back together again’ Alex Brown ‘A delightful escape’ Woman & HomeTrade Review MORE PRAISE FOR HOW TO KEEP A SECRET: ‘I laughed, I cried, I held my breath. I absolutely adored it’Cathy Bramley ‘Sarah Morgan just gets better and better’Veronica Henry ‘A compelling, gorgeously drawn story with laughter and tears, warmth and so much heart’Miranda Dickinson ‘This sweeping novel will have you questioning all the secrets you've ever kept. I loved it’Penny Parkes, author of Practice Makes Perfect PRAISE FOR SARAH MORGAN: ‘An uplifting and satisfying tale’My Weekly ‘Full of romance and laughter’HELLO! ‘Feel-good fiction – with edge’Heat ‘A joyous and stirring mix of romance, secrets and family’S Magazine ‘Enjoyably escapist romance’Sunday Mirror

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Book SynopsisTimothy Gandy has kept his lifetime''s ambition secret for forty years.Now, suddenly (if tragically) released from the hen-pecked tedium of his ordinary existence, he is unexpectedly free to realize his dreams.He will embark on a Grand Tour of Europe, following in the footsteps of the aristocrats of the eighteenth century.He anticipates high art, culture and pleasant weather. He never expected to encounter new friendships - and possibly even love - along the way. It seems that Mr Gandy has embarked on the journey of a lifetime . . .READERS ARE LOVING MR GANDY''S GRAND TOUR:''Another heartwarming story from Alan Titchmarsh'' - 5 STARS''Well worth reading'' - 5 STARS''What a sweet tale this was'' - 5 STARS''Loved it!'' - 5 STARS''Enchanting'' - 5 STARSTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR ALAN TITCHMARSH:A perfect love story * Katie Fforde on THE HAUNTING *It's just brilliant - full of poetry * Jilly Cooper on THE SCARLET NIGHTINGALE *A pleasurable read which fans will lap up * Daily Mail *The story brims with intrigue * Daily Express on THE HAUNTING *Art, antiques and romance are the ingredients: Titchmarsh boils the pot to a fine froth. * Saga Magazine on THE FOLLY *

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Book SynopsisThe brilliantly gripping new novel from the New York Times best-selling author of The Pilot''s Wife (an Oprah''s Book Club selection).''Long before Liane Moriarty was spinning her Big Little Lies, Shreve was spicing up domestic doings..She still is, as effectively as ever, this time with a narrative literally lit from within'' New York TimesHot breath on Grace''s face. Claire is screaming, and Grace is on her feet. As she lifts her daughter, a wall of fire fills the window. Perhaps a quarter of a mile back, if even that. Where''s Gene? Didn''t he come home? 1947. Fires are racing along the coast of Maine after a summer-long drought, ravaging thousands of acres, causing unprecedented confusion and fear. Five months pregnant, Grace Holland is left alone to protect her two toddlers when her difficult and unpredictable husband Gene joins the volunteers fighting to brinTrade ReviewAnita Shreve...writes with such care and knowing that it's impossible not to be consumed by her storytelling, her beautiful sentences always exceeding the sum of their words . . . Shreve is a literary talent for all, and this novel - up there with her award-winning The Weight of Water - is flaming good * The Times *Long before Liane Moriarty was spinning her Big Little Lies, Shreve was spicing up domestic doings in beachfront settings with terrible husbands and third-act twists. She still is, as effectively as ever, this time with a narrative literally lit from within * New York Times *Shreve's account of the fires is terrifying, and her portrait of a bad marriage almost equally so. Her recreation of post-war, pre feminist American society is a model of elegant restraint, deep feeling, skillful characterisation, and a richly evocative sense of place * Sydney Morning Herald *Like her sensational best-selling 1998 novel The Pilot's Wife, about a widow who discovers her pilot husband had a second family, The Stars Are Fire explores what happens in the secret spaces between married people...Masterful... lingers long after the last page is turned, like the smoke from a wildfire * USA Today *Delicate, poignant storytelling * Good Housekeeping *An elegant portrait of a gutsy woman bent on survival * Woman & Home *Precise, evocative prose brings the story's vivid characters to life...original and gripping * People *A compulsive read, this novel pulled me into an ordinary woman's life and made me care too much about her to put it down * Glasgow Herald *

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of Great CircleJoyously good' DAILY MAILA ferociously clever comedy of manners' GUARDIANA wise, sophisticated and funny novel about family, fidelity, class and crisis' MARIE CLAIREA well-observed, hilarious, yet moving novel' WOMAN & HOMENew York Times bestseller and winner of the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize and 2012 L.A. Times First Novel PrizeThe Van Meters have gathered at their family retreat on the New England island of Waskeke to celebrate the marriage of daughter Daphne to an impeccably appropriate young man. The weekend is full of lobster and champagne, salt air and practiced bonhomie, but long-buried discontent and simmering lust seep through the cracks in the revelry.Winn Van Meter, father-of-the-bride, has spent his life following the rules of the east coast upper crust, but now, just shy of his sixtieth birthday, he must finally confront his failings, his desires, and his own humanityMaggie Shipstead is a hugely talented young writer definTrade Review‘Joyously good’ Daily Mail ‘A ferociously clever comedy of manners’ Guardian ‘Shipstead’s sophisticated and summery debut more than lives up to the hype’ Independent ‘Distinctive and dazzling … The world has found a remarkable, humane new voice to explain us to ourselves’ Allison Pearson, Telegraph ‘A wise, sophisticated and funny novel about family, fidelity, class and crisis’ Marie Claire

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Book SynopsisThe life you lived. The life you loved. The life you left…For fans of Jojo Moyes and Cecelia Ahern.Trade ReviewPraise for The Life You Left: ‘Engaging from the first page, at times emotional, at others thoughtful, The Life You Left will make you see life in a different way.’ – Women’s Way ‘Heartwrenching and heartwarming’ – The Evening Herald “Guaranteed to brighten your day – once you have dried your tears!” – Novelicious ‘Carmel Harrington has done it again! Brilliantly written and as a second novel for this author, it surpasses all expectations.’ -Chicklit Club ‘Not only proves what an amazing book this is, but what a discovery Carmel Harrington is to the literary world.’ – BookGeekWearsPajams ‘A perfect summer read, grab the sun hat, a glass of wine, get out into the garden and enjoy!’ – BleachHouseLibrary Praise for Carmel’s first book, Beyond Grace’s Rainbow: ‘It will pull you in, make you laugh and break your heart – in a good way!’ – USA Today Bestselling Author Abby Green ‘A bittersweet, quietly brilliant novel that will make you cry, laugh and cry all over again.’ – Female First ‘Funny, poignant and bursting with heartfelt humour.’ – I Heart… Chick Lit ‘You will laugh, you will cry, you might even get angry. One thing is for sure – this, thanks to the warmth of writing and the level of feeling Harrington obviously has for her characters, is a story you will never forget.’ – AfterTheFinalChapters.com ‘I can hand on my heart honestly say that this book has blown me away. Treat yourself to it. It's not just for us chick-lit ladies. It's for everyone who enjoys a good read and a brilliant book. It's Sensational.’ – PajamaBookGirl

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